There are some patients who experience severe chronic pain who enjoy adding different modalities of treatment to their acupuncture session. One such effective practice is the use of electro-acupuncture. Electro-acupuncture is used in conjunction with acupuncture to stimulate each acupuncture point and produce more sensation. There is a current used however no actual current is transmitted through the body and a usual session ranges from 10-20 minutes.
The way that electro-acupuncture is used is by attaching a small electrode onto the acupuncture needle when it has already been placed on the body. This provides a gentle stimulation which is felt as a vibration that increases the stimulation of Qi at the point. This is done in substitution to an acupuncturist’s hand stimulating the needles.
Electro-acupuncture is specifically effective at treating chronic pain, neurological diseases, spasms, or paralysis. It is a wonderful addition to acupuncture as it promotes the flow of qi and blood thus relieving pain and blockage.
It is important to note, however, that electro-acupuncture is contraindicated and should not be done on patients who are pregnant, or those who have a history of epilepsy, strokes, and/or heart disease.
If you or anyone you know has a specific concern that you’d like to treat using electro-acupuncture, book an initial consultation here to see us at Healing With Zen!
>> In our series “Healing modalities” we cover different and maybe unknown natural healing methods, such as Body Gua Sha. Learn more here and stay tuned for our next post about Moxa! <<
